Following the announcement of Iglesia Ni Cristo’s (INC) endorsement of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio for President and Vice President, several celebrities and social media personalities took to twitter to share their thoughts.
On Tuesday, May 3, religious group INC announced their endorsement of Marcos Jr and Duterte-Carpio for the 2022 national elections.
They also endorsed 11 senators from the UniTeam slate and former PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar.
On twitter, host-comedian and vlogger Ogie Diaz shared that not all INC members will follow the endorsement citing a friend who said their family is bound to defy the endorsement and vote for what’s good for the country.
“Yung friend ko at ang family niya na inc, wag na daw ako maingay. “Di naman nakaka-guilty. Ngayon lang kami susuway. Para naman sa bayan ito.””
Yung friend ko at ang family niya na inc, wag na daw ako maingay. “Di naman nakaka-guilty. Ngayon lang kami susuway. Para naman sa bayan ito.” 👩🎤💗💕
— ogie diaz (@ogiediaz) May 3, 2022
True Faith vocalist Medwin Marfil also shared his reaction by saying it’s ironic for a church group to endorse plunderers.
“A church that endorses thieves. Nice. A lot of times, rock bands that are accused of being satanic – pentagrams on their artworks, pagan imagery, highly sexualized themes in songs – are far more morally upright than organized religion.”
A church that endorses thieves. Nice.
A lot of times, rock bands that are accused of being satanic – pentagrams on their artworks, pagan imagery, highly sexualized themes in songs – are far more morally upright than organized religion.
— MEDS Ⓥ (@MedwinTruefaith) May 3, 2022
A theatre actor and another certified Kakampink Red Atadero volunteer artist performer also shared Medwin’s sentiments.
In his tweet, Atadero said, “I don’t care what you say, a religious sect that endorses thieves, tax evaders, plunderers, and bullies has no moral compass. And don’t tell me you have no choice. You’re a human being, not cattle.”
I don’t care what you say, a religious sect that endorses thieves, tax evaders, plunderers, and bullies has no moral compass. And don’t tell me you have no choice. You’re a human being, not cattle.
— Reb Atadero (@rebranger) May 3, 2022
While there are celebrities who criticized the endorsement, there were also those who commended INC members who continues to stand for the country despite pressure from their sect.
Social media “priestsonality” Fr. Myke salutes INC members who remains kakampinks calling them kakampINC.
“Saludo sa lahat ng kakampINC!”
Saludo sa lahat ng kakampINC!
— Fr. Myke, MSC (@popmonkph) May 3, 2022
Theatre actor and director Audie Gemora also saluted kakampink INC members.
“Mabuhay mga kapampINC”
https://twitter.com/GemoraAudie/status/1521504838760026113
Social media influencer and vlogger Inah Evans or Ate Dick, on the other hand, challenges those INC members who support the Leni-Kiko tandem to make a stand.
“Iyong mga INC na si Leni ang iboboto, it is your time to make a stand. Huwag kayong bulbol.”
Iyong mga INC na si Leni ang iboboto, it is your time to make a stand. Huwag kayong bulbol.
— Ate Dick (Inah Evans) (@_AteDick) May 3, 2022
Celebrity host Chuckie Dreyfus meanwhile asked members of INC not to be swayed by the endorsement, “Do the leaders of your congregation serve your best interests or theirs? God has given all of you “free will.” Now is the time to exercise that will.”
Do the leaders of your congregation serve your best interests or theirs?
God has given all of you “free will.”
Now is the time to exercise that will.
— Chuckie Dreyfus (@chuckiedreyfus) May 3, 2022
Meanwhile, director Perin Intalan reminded all Kakampinks to ignore the surveys and religious group’s endorsement and focus on campaigning for Leni-Kiko for the remaining of the campaign period.
“Guys focus tayo. Surveys, relgious groups, fake news…lumang gimik na yan. Ang bago ay yung energy at passion na binibigay ng mga naniniwala kay Leni at Kiko. Ang bago ay yung pakikipagtulungan sa isa’t isa ng mga inspired kina Leni at Kiko. Ipapanalo natin ito!”
Guys focus tayo. Surveys, relgious groups, fake news…lumang gimik na yan. Ang bago ay yung energy at passion na binibigay ng mga naniniwala kay Leni at Kiko. Ang bago ay yung pakikipagtulungan sa isa’t isa ng mga inspired kina Leni at Kiko. Ipapanalo natin ito! pic.twitter.com/lL5MVN8FTe
— Perci Intalan (@percinotpercy) May 3, 2022
The Iglesia ni Cristo boasts of its 2 to 3 million followers who vote “as one”.
However, previous elections proved that their bloc voting is a failure for the religious sect since most of the candidates they endorsed didn’t win the election.
In 2016, INC endorsed Marcos Jr also for Vice President but he lost to Vice President Leni Robredo. In 2010, Mar Roxas was endorsed for Vice President and he also lost to former Vice President Jojo Binay. In 1992, INC backed the candidacy of the late former Ambassador Danding Cojuanco but lost to former President Fidel V. Ramos.
